Traffic-metering system



Feb. 5, 1929. 1,701,071

R. F. GOULD TRAFFIC METERING SYSTEM Filed Jan. 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 F j M351? RACK I En FII-auld 72 521 Feb. '5, 1929. 1,701,071

R. F. GOULD TRAFFI C METERING SYSTEM Filed Jan. 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FM f hum! -Invan CIT- Eu E'Euuld.

Patented Feb. 5, 1929.

UNETED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROY F. GOULD, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO RESERVE HOLDING COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

TRAFFIC-METERING SYSTEM.

Application filed January 8, 1927. Serial No. 159,796.

The present invention relates in general to traffic metering systems for use in connection with telephone systems, but is particularly concerned with the provision of an improved traffic metering scheme which enables the distribution of the various shelves of selectors to a number of trunk groups in any desirable or convenient manner irrespective of their location.

A particular feature of the invention has to do with an arrangei'nent which permits all selector spaces which are vacant to be placed in one group and to an arrangement making them always available for use when any one or a number of trunk groups is to be enlarged.

Another feature has to do with the provi sion of an arrangement whereby the slip in multiple between trunks available to one shelf of selectors and another can be taken advantage of by the individual trunks of all groups rather than by groups as a whole. In the past it has been the usual custom to assign selectors of only one shelf to an incoming trunk group so that all trunks of that group had the same trunks as first choice. Nith the present arrangement a trunk group using ten or more selectors has at least ten different outgoing trunks as first choice.

Another advantage of the present arrangement is that by separating the supervisory equipment from the traffic metering equip ment, it enables any desired. variations to be made in the size of a trunk group and in the arrangement of metering without in any way interfering with the supervisory equipment.

Another more or less minor advantage of the present scheme is its adaptability of application to a modern type of selector distributing frame such as shown in the Patent No. 1,633,118, issued June 21,, 1927, to H. B. McElyea.

There are various other advantages not specifically pointed out, but which will be brought out in the following description and annexed claims.

Fig. 1 diagrannnatically illustrates the invention applied to a well known selector circuit; while Figs. 9 and 3 are partial views of a selector distributing frame and selector shelf assembly such as shown in the patent referred to, illustrating the method of connecting the traffic metering equipment there" with.

The usual selector board comprises six shelves of twenty selectors each which, to gether with a similar shelf, is served by a selector distributing frame as illustrated in the pending patent hereinbefore referred to. At the end of each shelf, adjacent to the distributing frame, a twenty point terminal assembly 27 is secured to the top of the shelf and a conductor, such as 25 in Fig. 1, is extended from each switch of the shelf to an individual terminal of the terminal assembly. These conductors are formed into a small cable 25 and lie on the same insulators as the jack cable 26, as shown in Figs. 2 and. The incoming groups of conductors terminating in the control circuits of the various selectors may be arranged in any desired manner and the operation of meters individual. to each group is taken care of by proper multipling or tying together of contacts of each strip and by running jumpers between the shelf terminal assemblies. From the terminal assembly 27 located on the uppermost shelf, meter conductors are run to the existing distributing frame through the existing jumper rings to the portion of the distributing frame terminal assembly 27' assigned for traffic metering purposes. At this point they are connected to the traffic metering cable, which leads to the usually provided trafiie metering rack which may be located at any convenient place.

When additions are made to any trunk group any selector positions not in use may be utilized irrespective of their shelf position, and the metering will be taken care of by proper, connections being made at the terminal strip assembly individual to the shelf or shelves without in any way interfering with the existing shelf supervisory signals.

It has been hereinbefore mentioned that a feature of this invention had to do with an arrangement whereby the slip in multiple between trunks available to different shelves is taken advantage of by the individual trunks of all groups rather than by groups as a whole. Further explanation of this fea ture will now be made. The conductors terminating in the selector banks are manufactured in multiple groups to serve groups of ten selectors each and, therefore, each shelf of switches is divided into two sub-groups. In arranging a slip of one between the bank multiples of adjacent shelves each shelf is treated as two distinct shelves. Starting from the upper left shelf its switches have trunk #1 as first choice, the shelf below it has trunk #2 as first choice, and so on, the bottom shelf having trunk #6 as first choice. This slip arrangement is then continued by giving the sub-groups of switches forming the right half of the upper shelf trunk #7 as first choice and so on.

Since there is a slip of one between the out going bank multiples of adjacent shelves the most desirable way to arrange the incoming trunk group is to assign a vertical row, rows, or any part of a row or switches to each trunk group as determined by the size of the group. For instance, if the first incoming trunk group comprises nine trunks the first vertical row and three switches of the eleventh vertical row will be used. This will enable the group to have the advantage of a slip in multiple between the first nine trunks that the distance of rotation of any switch to enable it to find an idle trunk will be reduced to an absolute minimum. This arrangement will permit the possibility of nine simultaneous calls being extended from the same trunk group with each selector taking only one rotary step.

Referring now to Fig. 1 the operation of the selector circuit shown will be suiiicient-ly described to clearly bring out the method used for transmitting the meter operating impulses. hen the conductors 16, 17, and 18 terminating in this selector are seized the line relay 5 is operated and completes a circuit for the release relay 6 from the grounded armature 15 and its resting contact, armature 12 and its working contact and the winding of slow release relay (3 to battery. Relay 6, upon operating, at its armature 13 and its working contact closes a point in the operating circuit of the vertical magnet 14.

\Vhen a numher is dialled by the calling subscriber a series of interruptions occur in the circuit of the line relay 5. Each time its armature restores an impulse is transmitted, from grounded armature 15 and its resting contact, armature 12 and its resting contact, armature 1.3 and its working contact, through series relay 7 and the vertical magnet 14 to battery. Upon the first vertical step of the switch, oil-normal contacts 21 and 22 are closed and the stepping relay 8 is operated. Following the transmission of one impulse series slow relay 7 restores and completes an operating circuit for the rotary magnet 28, which positions the wipers of the switch upon the first set of contacts of the elected group. If the first trunk is in use the usual automatic trunk hunting action will now take place and when an idle trunk is encountered the switching relay 9 will be operated in series with the stepping relay 8. \Vhen this occurs a circuit is completed to the traffic meter individual to this trunk group, over a path extending from grounded armature 15 and its working contact, the working contact and armature 10, key K in its normal position, and the conductor 25 to operate the meter individual to its group.

In the arrangement just described only ralls which have progressed throiiigh the first selector will be metered, because only in that case is the switching relay 9 operated. If it is desired that registration be made of all calls extended to the selector the key K is shifted to its alternate position. Irrespective of the position of key K the line relay becoi'ncs operated when the switch is seized, and irrespective of what happens thereafter, when the call is abandoned or a conversation terminated an impulse is transmitted to the release magnet from grounded armature 15 and its resting contact, armature 12 and its resting contact, armature 13 and its resting contact, through cit-normal springs 21 and the winding of release magnet 15 and supervisory relay 21 to battery. New with the key K in its alternate position the working contact of grounded armature 11 is connected to conductor instead of the resting contact of armature 15 and, therefore, upon operation of the release magnet an impulse is transmitted from grounded armature 11 and its working contact, through the key K to the conductor 25.

It will he noted that even though no impulse train may be transmitted to the selector the tra'tiic motor will be operated with this latter arrangement owing to the fact that the application of ground potential to the meter is by ground supplied through contacts on the release magnet, which always operates upon a prolonged deenergization of relay 5 irrespective of the position of the wipers of the switch.

Vhilc the conductor, connecting conductor 25 to the meter individual to the trunk group to which the shown selector belongs, is not shown connected. to other terminal strips, this is indicated by the jumper 31 of Fig. 3.

From the foregoing it will. be appreciated that applicant has produced an improved arrangement for ti'aflic metering which should prove of considerable value especially in multi-o'tlicc systems.

\Vhat is claimed is 1. In an automatic telephone system, a switchboard comprising a phirality of horizontal rows of switches, groups of trunk lines each group having trunks terminating in switches of different rows, supervisory equipment individual to each switch row and operative each time the release circuit of a switch in its row is closed, and a meter operating circuit common to the trunk group to which the switch belongs and closed by any switch of the group upon the closure of the release circuit of a switch of the group irrespective of the row in which the particular switch is located.

2. in. a telephone system, a frame supporting a plurality of horizontal rows of automatic trunking switches divided into groups, each group comprising switches located in each row, a relay for each row, a circuit for operating said relay consequent to the release of any switch of that row, tratlic meters electrically associated with said groups, there being one individual to each group and circuitconnections for operating the proper meter 01 a group irrespective of the condition of any srqpervisory relay.

3. In a teleplnme system, a shelf supporting a plurality of rows of automatic switches, a supervisory relay for each row, and a common operating circuit for said supervisory relay completed by any switch of its row, a meter operating conductor for each switch of a row terminating in a terminal strip at the end of the row, a meter, jumper connections betweencontacts oi each terminal strip, jumper connections between the jumpered terminals of each strip and a conductor connectii'nesaid jumpered terminals to a trafiic meter independent of said supervisory relay.

i. In a telephone system, a plurality of selector switches arranged in horizontal levels, bank multiples for said switches extending to other automatic switches, the said switches of each level having a di'lTerent order of access to said multiples than any other level, meter conductors for said switches, agroup of trallic meters, there being one for each of a plurality of subdivisions of said switches, each subdivision of switches comprising switches from one or any number of levels, and circuit connections for causing the operation of the meter individual to any subdivision responsive to the release of a switch in that subdivision irrespective of the location of such switch, and supervisory means operating during such release indicating the level in which the particular switch is located.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 5th day of January, A. D. 1927.

ROY F. GOULD. 

